Women in business

Ruzwana's ticket into tech

What drives Peek.com co-founder and CEO Ruzwana Bashir? A thirst for travel that never tires. Watch as she speaks on everything from the trip that sparked her start-up to the way women take risks as entrepreneurs in today’s tech landscape.

Flying out of your comfort zone

Ruzwana's story

Tiffany in flight

Tiffany Shlain

Tiffany Shlain is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder of The Webby Awards and has been called “one of the women shaping the 21st Century” by Newsweek. Her newest film, "50/50: Rethinking the Past, Present, and Future of Women + Power," premiered globally on Refinery29 and will act as a centerpiece for 50/50 Day on May 10, 2017. Tiffany’s outlook on travel in that it's an engine for inspiration, creativity and insight.

How Tiffany travels from B to A

“The metaphor definitely speaks to me. I started as a filmmaker, then founded The Webby Awards, and then flipped my itinerary by going back to being a filmmaker.

In my twenties, I established The Webby Awards, which was an exciting rocket to ride and steer—although after almost a decade, I craved going back to filmmaking full-time, combining with my knowledge of the web.

I think that decade detour has been essential to how I think of new ways that technology can help me make films with others (like through cellphones) and distribute them in new ways. For example, we do something we call “Cloud Filmmaking” which is participatory filmmaking where we write a script and then there are certain parts of the film that invite people to answer questions via mobile. I always prefer the world “cloud” to the world “web” when describing how we are all technologically connected; clouds are about creativity and imagination, they have no limits.

We now do cloud film premieres globally with screenings in thousands of places where people already gather (their companies, schools, homes). They’re all watching the same film, talking about the same subject linked together by a global Q & A with thought leaders on the subject. The next one we’ll have will screen my film 50/50 on 50/50 Day, set for May 10th and immediately following, there will be discussions about the importance of gender equality.

How to: Conduct global business

Filmmaker Tiffany Shlain has travelled the world over aboard British Airways to connect audiences with social issues like gender balance. Watch how her global prowess translates in London.

How to: Network in London

Filmmaker Tiffany Shlain and Executive Creative Director of Refinery29, Piera Luisa Gelardi first collaborated to help the world gain perspective on gender balance. British Airways brought them back together to show how else they’re contributing to today’s network of incredible women in business.

Locations credit:

Steph and Jen's journey

Steph Korey and Jen Rubio

Steph Korey and Jen Rubio are the co-founders of Away, a brand seeking to make travel more seamless. Like the label’s collection of carry-ons and checked bags, the duo embraces this simple, sleek ethos both in business as well as in-flight. What’s more, their complementary skill sets continue to prove that a journey is best taken together.

How to make your travel partner a business partner

On the trip of a lifetime, who do you bring along? There’s the navigator or the local gem researcher. Of course, we all have a pro-packer in our lives.

For us, the ideal travel mate is totally on top of it—they plan well, aren’t stressed, and know how to get where they want to go. But they also don’t freak out if plans change or things go wrong. It's about being efficient and smart, you want to get there swiftly but enjoy the process too.

At Away, making travel more seamless is literally what we do. When the time came to start the adventure of a new company, who and what we took with us was essential. That’s when it hit us—both lifelong globetrotters…

The ideal travel mate isn’t unlike the perfect business partner.

After being each other’s perpetual coffee date at Warby Parker, we went our separate ways: Steph to Casper and Jen to AllSaints in London. As our paths began to re-converge to create Away, we realized we had never actually worked directly with one another. As a result, our skillsets had strengthened in wildly complimentary ways. These distinctions would become the backbone of our support system as co-founders.

We're two different people with unique backgrounds and experiences, but with the same goals and vision, so conversations always lead to bigger and better ideas. Every day shows how valuable it is to have each other as a sounding board to validate good ideas and bring options to the table.

Recently we were asked, “If you could sit next to anyone on a flight, who would it be and why?” Instinctually, we both answered, “Her.” We know that our experience is atypical and not everyone has the luxury to travel with a business partner or work with a close friend. But we’ll say this: open yourself up to those who may have opposing opinions from your own. You never know where it’ll take you.

Steph & Jen’s travel philosophy

“When I was 21, my concept of travel was this big event that you planned for and saved for. Once it happened, it was over. But it’s not just one big event. Your whole life can be filled with rich cultural experiences if you open yourself up to them. Anytime you find yourself away from home, seek opportunities to see and learn something new.”

Steph Korey, co-founder Away

“Last week I traveled from a photo shoot in India to a work event in New Orleans. I was tired and jetlagged. I don’t have advice for my 21-year-old-self—but what my 21-year-old-self might tell me in that moment is: shut up. It’s important to remember the wonder and excitement that going somewhere new brings, even if you’re traveling for work.”

Inspiring Piera

Piera Gelardi

Piera Gelardi is Executive Creative Director and co-founder of the award-winning digital media company, Refinery29. She leads a growing team of creatives who bring the brand to life online and IRL through diverse, original content, storytelling, and experiences meant to empower and inspire women. She and her team have won numerous awards and honors including CLIO Image, Webby's, Digiday Publishing, and spots on both Inc 500 and Fast Company's lists of most innovative companies. Piera was recently honored as one of Ad Age's 50 Most Creative People of the year.

In 2014, Piera co-authored Refinery29's first book, the New York Times best seller, Style Stalking. She is also a frequent public speaker, a jury member for the CLIO Image Awards, the Webby Awards, and the Art Director’s Club, and holds a seat on the AIGA/NY Board of Directors.

Prior to the launch of Refinery29, Piera was Photo Director at CITY magazine, which won an ASME for Best Photography as well as numerous SPD awards under her direction. When she's not burning the midnight oil at Refinery29, she's breaking it down on the dance floor, gallery hopping, religiously sending snail mail, or indulging her love of adventures in far-flung places. Piera lives in Brooklyn.

How to turn Business travel into An Adventure

Finishing a run just in time to watch the sunrise over the French Riviera. Boot-scooting in an Austin honky tonk. Meeting inspiring minds under the live oaks of Savannah. These aren’t scenes from my latest cross-country, cross-Atlantic adventure—these were all business trips.

Whenever I travel for Refinery29, I will always do my damnedest to take in some element of culture from the city outside of meetings and conferences. I want to make every trip memorable, even if it means waking up a few minutes earlier or taking the long way to a speaking engagement. A lot of people see business travel as a chore but I see it as an opportunity for exploration and new experiences. To do that, I keep these three things in mind.

Get in touch before touchdown…
When visiting somewhere new, I like to get into the feeling of the place, the authentic understanding of it. So before I travel, I’ll get in touch with some local heroes — friends, colleagues, and creative people who I admire in that city — and ask for their recommendations and favorite spots or try to arrange a meet up. Breakfasts or evening drinks are a great time to meet up with people and get a dose of inspiration and conversation and find out more about local culture.

Become a destination detective…
Refinery29 posts some great guides to popular cities throughout Europe and beyond. But when it comes to sleuthing out my next stop for work or otherwise, I like doing my own research as well. I tend to go down the Instagram rabbit hole, looking at geo-tags and finding local Instagrammers to see what local gems they like to frequent. I’m super visual, so I know in advance if a destination will get my creative juices flowing.

Turn wishes into action plans…
After researching, it’s time to make my wishes come true. Since time is of the essence, it’s all about combining the practical with the inspirational. I’ll try to book a boutique hotel that has character and it’s own local scene. Or, I’ll request to schedule a business meeting at a cool new restaurant I’ve had my eye on. If you plan it right, you can make it all happen.

Similarly, delays mean less time for exploration. Be early. Especially for your flight! Those extra few minutes at the airport become a part of the experience: plotting out how you can make your exploration wishes come true while also hitting your work obligations.

A mantra of mine that I carry through my travels—and my life—is “squeeze every drop out of the lemon.” If you’re afforded the opportunity to travel for work, especially to Europe which is bursting with opportunities for exploration and discovery, treasure the possibility of what’s waiting at the next gate. There’s always a drop waiting to be squeezed.

Piera’s travel philosophy

“Whenever I travel for work, I will always do my damnedest to take in some element of culture from the city beyond the meetings or conferences I am attending, like sneaking off to a honky tonk after dinner with new friends at SxSW or taking an early morning run in Cannes to experience the sunrise over the ocean. I want to make every trip memorable.”

Pier’s in-flight must haves

How to: Wear your a-game abroad

When Piera Luisa Gelardi, co-founder and Executive Creative Director of Refinery29, travels for business, she’s sure to do so in style. Follow her from wheels-up with British Airways to downtime in London’s Shoreditch.

Film credit:

Holly Marie Cato is an international storyteller using photography, film and social media to share compelling stories of the people she meets across the world and in her city, London.

Sierra Pruitt is a fashion photographer who ventured to London to expand her portfolio and meet new global connections.

Jeaulina is a London native who works in graphic design and specializes in art direction and lifestyle photography.

Peju Obasa is a London based Knitwear designer, creating vibrant collections that tell the rich history of street culture circa 1970 also drawing influences from her global travels.

Kostadin Stoimenov Bulgarian born film-maker/videographer who is pursuing his passion in the creative industry by exploring a range of projects and experimenting with filming methods.

Film locations credit:

The Amperstand

The Shard

Dim T

Church Street Market

Brick Lane

Women of British Airways

For these three British Airways women, passion has always been paramount. Pilot Kat Woodruffe shares her story with engineers Eleanor Levitt and Tsungi Maruta and others show how they navigate today’s gender gap.

How to: Break the glass ceiling

How do the women of British Airways fly through the glass ceiling? Watch how our pilots are navigating the gender gap.

Film credit:

Holly Marie Cato is an international storyteller using photography, film and social media to share compelling stories of the people she meets across the world and in her city, London.

Sierra Pruitt is a fashion photographer who ventured to London to expand her portfolio and meet new global connections.

Jeaulina is a London native who works in graphic design and specializes in art direction and lifestyle photography.

Peju Obasa is a London based Knitwear designer, creating vibrant collections that tell the rich history of street culture circa 1970 also drawing influences from her global travels.

Kostadin Stoimenov Bulgarian born film-maker/videographer who is pursuing his passion in the creative industry by exploring a range of projects and experimenting with filming methods.

From daughter to Senior First Officer

It’s a question that’s often met with responses ranging from firemen to astronauts or ballerinas. But for Kat Woodruffe, the answer has always remained the same. She spent her childhood always looking up—to the skies and to her father, David Woodruffe, a British Airways pilot.

“My dad was my inspiration to become a pilot,” says Kat. “I grew up watching him put on his uniform and flying around the world.”

Today, the global ratio of female to male pilots is around 32:1. At British Airways, we proudly support the highest proportion of female pilots of any UK airline. Thanks to encouraging dads like David and driven women like Kat, that number is always growing. In fact, the father-daughter pilots have a good idea as to who will be the next member of their flight crew.

“Flying is definitely in the Woodruffe DNA,” Kat goes on, “I’d love to get to fly with my own daughter, Poppy.”

Engineering a new standard in STEM

In the past few years, the visibility of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has been increasing. But there’s still work to be done. That’s where the female leaders at British Airways come in.

“I believe it’s important for girls and young women to speak to women already working in STEM areas to learn from their experiences and to show them it’s a realistic option for them, as much as it is for boys,” says Lauren Stacey, a British Airways Team Leader.

Among those who seek to set an example for rising women in STEM are British Airways’ Eleanor Leavitt, a Graduate Engineer, and Tsungi Maruta, an Engineer. On their shared passion for promoting diversity in the field, Leavitt acknowledged, “I definitely see this as being a marathon, not a sprint.”

Still, Maruta goes to work each day ready to inspire others, offering this key advice, “Keep pushing. Believe in yourself and go for it. Dream, believe, achieve.”